Pregnancy Specialist

Her Medical Clinic

OB-GYNs located in Beverly Grove & Downtown, Los Angeles, CA

Pregnancy is an exciting time, and it's also an important time to do all you can to manage your health and your baby's health. Dr. Silver offers state-of-the-art care for mothers-to-be in Los Angeles, CA, including mothers facing high-risk pregnancies, to help ensure optimal health and wellness all the way through delivery.

Pregnancy Q & A

What happens in a prenatal exam?

Prenatal exams help Dr. Silver monitor the health of you and your baby to help ensure a smooth and trouble-free pregnancy and delivery for both. At each exam, you'll be asked about your health, your weight and blood pressure will be taken, and your belly will be measured. You may also have lab work, including urinalysis or blood work. At certain points in your pregnancy, Dr. Silver may order an utlrasound to check on your baby's development and positioning.

What kinds of pregnancy-related services does Dr. Silver offer?

Dr. Silver offers the most advanced care and treatment for pregnant women in the Los Angeles area, including:

in-office ultrasound

genetic testing

Ashkenazic Jewish panel

amniocentesis

consultation for cesarean section and vaginal birth following cesarean

high-risk obstetrics services

How can I tell if I have a high-risk pregnancy?

A high-risk pregnancy is one which could result in health issues for either the mother or the baby or both. The best way to know if your pregnancy could be considered high risk is to have a prenatal exam as soon as possible after becoming pregnant, or better yet, to discuss your potential risks with Dr. Silver prior to becoming pregnant. Dr. Silver offers pre-conception counseling as well as consultations for infertility and for patients at risk for complications, including women with diabetes and older women.

Are there risk factors associated with high-risk pregnancies?

Yes, some factors can make a woman more likely to have a high-risk pregnancy. These include:

How often do you have prenatal exams?

For healthy pregnancies that don't fall into the high-risk category, prenatal exams are usually scheduled as follows:

Every four weeks until you reach the 28th week of your pregnancy

Every two to three weeks from week 28 until the 36th week

Once a week from the 36th week until birth

For patients over 35, teenagers, and other high-risk patients, prenatal visits are usually scheduled more often.

Which tests check on the baby's health?

At key points during your pregnancy, Dr. Kong and her team may recommend an ultrasound during prenatal exams. Ultrasounds are a great tool for measuring the baby’s growth to make sure size and weight are on track.

Should anything crop up during routine health checks, or if you fall into a high-risk category, Dr. Kong may want to investigate further with an amniocentesis, a procedure that gathers a small sample of your amniotic fluid. This fluid provides valuable indicators of the following:

Down syndrome and other conditions

Lung development

Infections or illnesses

Dr. Kong also uses amniocentesis to remove excess fluid from the uterus, which is recommended for most high-risk pregnancies.

An amniocentesis is generally considered to be a safe procedure, but it does run a small risk of miscarriage. Dr. Kong ensures that you understand every step of the procedure beforehand and why it’s important.

What is a high-risk pregnancy?

A number of different factors can cause Dr. Kong to categorize your pregnancy as high-risk. These include:

Previous miscarriages

Age over 35

Diabetes

Hypertension

Obesity

Multiple pregnancies — twins, triplets, or more

Fetal health problems, including abnormally fast or slow growth

Vaginal delivery or C-section?

Deciding between natural birth or cesarean section should take all health factors of mother and baby into account. For some pregnancies, a scheduled C-section is the safest option. For many others, vaginal delivery is best.

The most important thing is to stay flexible. Dr. Kong will do everything possible to help you have the delivery of your choosing while making sure that you and your baby are healthy.

Make a pregnancy care appointment using the online tool anytime, or call the office to see Dr. Kong soon.

Placental problems, abnormal fetal growth and high blood pressure that develops during pregnancy can also result in an increased risk for complications.